Sidekicks....Best, Worst...Funniest..>?

[SavageAmusement]

Sidekicks can provide one or multiple functions, such as a counter point to the hero, an alternate point of view, knowledge, skills or anything else the hero wouldn't have, someone more relatable to the audience than the hero, or whom the audience can imagine themselves as being (such as teen sidekicks), as comic relief, and/or the straight man to the hero's comedic actions.
The sidekick was a regular presence in westerns, where Fuzzy Knight, Al "Fuzzy" St. John, Smiley Burnette and Andy Devine had longer careers than some of the heroic singing cowboys for whom they took pratfalls. In science fiction a subtype of sidekick has been established—namely, the alien sidekick.
It may also be argued that some comedy sidekicks' apparent stupidity is to make a non-intellectual hero look intelligent. An openly flamboyant effeminate sidekick may make an unimposing hero look more masculine. A strong, silent and modest hero may have his fighting qualities revealed to the other characters and the audience by a talkative sidekick.
Hero sidekicks not only provide comic relief but can occasionally be brave or resourceful at times and rescue the hero from some dire fate: such as Streaky the Supercat of Krypto the Superdog, Festus Haggen of Gunsmoke's Matt Dillon (not to be confused with the actor) or Gabrielle of Xena: Warrior Princess.
Sidekicks also frequently serve as an emotional connection, especially when the hero is depicted as detached and distant, traits which would normally generate difficulty in making the hero likable. The sidekick is often the confidant who knows the main character better than anyone else and gives a convincing reason to like the hero. Although Sherlock Holmes was admittedly a difficult man to know, his friendship with Dr. Watson convinces the reader that Holmes is a good person. The Left Hand of Vampire Hunter D, being mentally linked to the reticent protagonist often reveals thoughts, feelings, physical condition of his host and sometimes background elements of the story.
While many sidekicks are used for comic relief, there are other sidekicks who are less outrageous than the heroes they pledge themselves to, and comedy derived from the hero can often be amplified by the presence or reaction of the sidekick. Examples include Porky Pig, who was more sensible and calmer than Daffy Duck in later short films; Sancho Panza is more rational than his master, Don Quixote.






That being said, there have been hundreds.


Batman, and Robin


Starsky and Hutch


Cagney and Lacey


And on and on---who was your favorite, is your favorite- who did you hate?
Who made you laugh....


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